Amherst woman knocked unconscious by man in her backyard

An Amherst woman was knocked unconscious Wednesday while in the backyard of her Harlem Road home and police are asking for help in finding the attacker.

The 22-year-old woman said a man came up behind her at about 9 a.m. and grabbed her, then pulled her down, causing her head to strike the ground and making her briefly lose consciousness.

When she came to, police said, she looked up to see the man standing over her. The woman was able to give only a vague description of her attacker.

Police said they did not find out about the incident until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and then began a canvass of the neighborhood, but were unable to obtain any leads. A motive for the attack has not yet been established.

“Her head hit the ground and she believes she blacked out for a moment. When she regained consciousness, the suspect was standing over her but then fled northbound on Harlem,” the department said in a press release.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Amherst Police Department at 689-1311.